Victoria Gate set to open new Japanese rooftop restaurant
ISSHO, A new Japanese rooftop restaurant, will open in the £165m Victoria Gate development in Leeds on June 21.
Restaurant group D&D London said Issho, which means “together” in Japanese, will serve authentic Asian dishes with a contemporary twist and an emphasis on sharing.
The 7,807 sq ft restaurant will have a rooftop bar and outdoor terrace. D&D said the new restaurant is its third venue in Leeds and follows the success of Angelica and Crafthouse.
Issho’s executive chef Ben Orpwood has previously worked at Knightsbridge restaurant Zuma and helped launch its Istanbul and Dubai sites before moving to Australia to work on the growth of the Toko Group as executive chef.
He also opened the popular Asian restaurant Sexy Fish in Mayfair as executive chef.
He said: “I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Japan several times and have worked in Asian restaurants across the globe, from Turkey and Dubai to London and Australia. My experience has certainly helped shape the menu at Issho and create eyecatching dishes that are full of flavour.
“It’s been a long time in the making, but all the hard work is paying off and we can’t wait to give food fans in Leeds the chance to try it for themselves.”
The menu includes dishes such as wagyu pastrami, smoked Dorset char with wasabi leaf dressing, barley miso lamb cutlets with smoked aubergine and cucumber and duck breast with pickled nashi pear and a spring onion sauce.
The kitchen will also serve traditional “robatayaki” dishes, where food such as Iberico pluma, sea bream and king salmon is slow-grilled over charcoal.
Seaweed-wrapped maki options include crab, tiger prawn tempura and salmon, as well as “Dynamite Ebi Tempura”, while sushi and sashimi lovers can choose from a selection of 11 dishes including yellowfin tuna, cured mackerel and sweet shrimp.
The drinks menu will include a range of sake and Japanese-inspired cocktails available in Issho’s Kori bar, which has its own terrace overlooking the city.
There is a chance to get a taste of Issho ahead of its launch as the team is hosting a four-day kitchen takeover at sister venue Angelica from May 15 to 18, offering diners the chance to sample dishes from its new menu over a month before the restaurant launches.